Method of forming plastic coating compositions on surfaces



Patented Oct. 5, I948 METHOD OF FORMING PLASTIC COATING COMPOSITIONS N SURFACES Folsom E. Drummond, Wes tfleld, 'N. 3., assignor to Chemical Developments Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio No Drawing.

Original application March 11,

1941, Serial No. 382,776. Divided and this application March 8,1947, Serial No. 733,429

iCl'aims. (01. 117-106) My invention relates to an improved method of producing plastic coatings on the surface of articles. r

This application is a division of my copendin application, Serial Number 382,776, filed March 11, 1941, now Patent Number 2,431,315. 1

It is a principal object of this invention to devise an improved method of providing articles with a tough resilient coating film without the application of heat. Heretofore it has been the conventional practice to apply protective coating compositions to articles in the form of liquid and baking the coating to form a hard film thereon. Similarly, in the application of plastic compositions, such as in plastic injection molding, use has been made of pressure molds for applying plastic compositions to different articles. All of the processes utilized heretofore require the use of expensive equipment, such as baking ovens, molds and temperature producing means for drying the coating film or processing the plastic material.

Myinvention eliminates the necessity for employing expensive equipment in the application of plastic and resinous coatings in order to form a protective coating finish film on articles. The essential feature of my method of forming protective coatings on articles comprises applying a suitable solution of polymerizable sub-.

stances contain-ing conjugated double bonds and bringing about the rapid polymerization of the' material by dispersing catalysts throughout the mass as it is applied to a supporting surface. The particular catalyst employed depends upon the substances to be polymerized and is selected so as to bring about cold or ordinary room temperature polymerization in situ upon application 'grees F. or lower. Catalystin. the amount o from 0.5 to ,3 per cent may be used which is intimately and uniformly mixed with the chloroprene. The presence of oxygen assists in accelerating the polymerization of the chloroprene. If desired, 1 to 1.5 per cent of a peroxide can be incorporated in the chloroprene to enhance the rate of polymerization of the coating to a solid of the polymerizable solution to the article. By I controlling the conditions of application of the polymerizable coating and selecting the most active catalyst the time for finishing the articles can be varied and the desired film characteristic produced.

As typical examples of my process, the following are illustrative:

Example I A' tough resinous coating is formed in situ on the surface of the article to be coated by spray- 1 film.

, Preferably the chloroprene is used in concentrated form or admixed with benzene so as to provide a sprayable solution. Cesium is-liquid at ordinary room temperature. In place of cesium other suitable catalyst may be used, i. e., sodium or rubidium. These substances may be utilized in colloidal solutions such as silicates.

Example II A resinous coating may be formed ,on an article similarly as in Example I by intimately admixing isoprene and liquid cesium as a catalyst with or without the addition of peroxides and immediately applying the mixture on the surface to be coated. The accelerated polymerization of the isoprene is effected at ordinary room temperature, for instance, at degrees F. or lower, as in the process described in Example I.

Example III In this instance, styrene is applied to the surdesired, ultraviolet light may be utilized to further accelerate the polymerization.

In the above examples, it will be understood that other suitable catalysts than those mentioned may be utilized, such as sodium, antimony chloride, aluminum chloride and pentene- 2, or a mixture of difierent catalysts, the catalyst selected being one which accelerates the polymerization of the organic substance forming high molecular weight solid or semisolid resinous polymers. As the peroxide there may be employed benzoyl peroxideto accelerate the polymerization.

In order to effectively disperse the catalyst throughout the polymerlzable hydrocarbon, as the latter is applied, the two substances may be sprayed simultaneously from separate containers so as to cause intermixing of the sprays Just prior to contacting the surface being treated.

If desired, partially polymerized hydrocarbons of the character mentioned may be used in place of the unpolymerized substance so as to further decrease the time of polymerization of the hydrocarbon to form the resinous film. In place of the hydrocarbon substances mentioned in the examples, there may be used other unsaturated terpene hydrocarbons and dienes which can be catalytically polymerized without the application of heat to form tough, plastic, adherent coatings.

To control the polymerization so as to produce a coating film having the desired characteristics a retarding agent or inhibitor of polymerization may be sprayed or flowed onto the coating after the polymerization has progressed to the desired stage to inhibit further polymerization. As an example, hydroquinone dissolved in alcohol or other suitable solvent may be applied over the polymercoating film at the proper time,

Admixtures of polymerizable compounds may be employed and the polymerization controlled to produce either smooth or wrinkled finish surfaces. Further, instead of applying the initial substances in the form of a spray the hydrocarbon and catalyst may be thoroughly mixed together and flowed onto the surface.

Where the polymerized product is of too brittle a nature plasticizing agents, such as commonly used in nitrocellulose coatings may b incorporated in sufficient amount to produce the desired flexibility in the film. The essential step in the process is the application of a compound which will rapidly polymerize in the presence of oxy en and a catalyst to form a resinous or rubber-like film which is produced in situ by mixing the substances and immediately flowing the mixture.

or simultaneously mixing and applying the same to the surface on which the coating is to be formed. In instances where the surface of the film is soft and requires aging to produce a hard nonadherent film, soapstone, talc, or the like, may

be applied over the surface to prevent stickin or adhering together of the articles until the polymerization has reached the stage such that a, hard film is formed whereupon the covering powder can be washed off.

One or more coatings may be applied and polymerized in situ to form the resinous film so as to build up a plastic coating of the desired thickness. It will be understood that modifications in the process of applying the polymerizable substances may be made to suit varying conditions and uses without departing from the spirit and scope of to be coated, and allowing it to air dry.

this invention as defined by the claims appended 2. A method of providing a surface with a tough resinous coating comprising simultaneously atomizing styrene and stannic chloride from separate sources so as to obtain a thoroughly mixed spray of said two substances, depositing said mixed spray on the surface to be coated, and allowing it to solidify.

' 3. A method of providing a surface with a tough resinous coating comprising atomizing styrene, atomizing stannic chloride, intimately mixing the styrene and stannic chloride mists obtained, depositing the mixed spray on'the article REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 1,950,430 Calcott et a1 Mar. 13, 1934 2,028,776 Hibbert Jan. 28, 1936 2,185,656 Waterman et al Jan. 2, 1940 2,259,497 Soday Oct. 21, 1941 2,270,285

Frolich Jan. 20, 1942 

